Hair highlighting tool

ABSTRACT

A method of applying hair treatment agents such as bleach, colorants and highlighters to a predetermined number of isolated or segregated sections of hair within a larger body of hair, the method comprising the following steps: obtaining a hair highlighting device having a main body reservoir portion extending the width of the hair highlighting device, the main body reservoir portion defined by at least 2 end portions, 2 elongated sidewalls and an opening along an upper portion, the main body reservoir portion having a lower channel with an essentially V-shaped cross-section and a plurality of lower openings located within the channel, the hair highlighting device further having a plurality of rollers coupled within the lower openings in the channel at the bottom of the main body reservoir portion and a plurality of hair gripping teeth extending downward from the openings at the bottom of the hollow main body reservoir portion, the plurality of teeth each having hair gripping apparatus at a lower end of the teeth; contacting the main body of hair with the hair highlighting device such that hair is captured by the plurality of hair gripping teeth and the captured hair is segregated from the main body of hair; and contacting the segregated portions of hair against the plurality of rollers, thereby transferring hair treatment agent from the main body reservoir portion across the plurality of rollers to the captured hair as desired.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.No. 60/522,199 filed Aug. 31, 2004 entitled FAST AND EASY HIGH LIGHTER,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and claimsany and all benefits to which it is entitled therefrom.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to color treatment of humanhair, and more particularly, to an improved method and apparatus tocolor and/or highlight hair directly and selectively using a hairstrands gripping device with a mechanical dispensing roller mechanismfor applying a controlled amount of dye to selected portions of hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Highlighting is a hair coloring technique to add from subtle to intensecolored hair streaks to human hair. The concept of highlighting is tocolor-dye and/or bleach only selected strands of hair, apart fromothers. Different and desirable visual effects can by attained byselecting different shades of color dye/bleach and hair strands forapplication.

Hair highlighting is a relatively advanced hair coloring skill and usedto be performed exclusively at hair salons by trained hair stylists andcolorists. In the traditional process, hair stylists use the tip of aspecial comb to selectively pick strands of hair for color treatment.The zigzag movement of the comb tip that resembles knitting movementensures alternate strands of hair are being picked up and treated. Colordye is then applied to those selected hair strands, thus providing themulti-colored effect commonly associated with highlights. This methodrequires advanced hair styling skills including picking the rightstrands of hair, zigzag knitting motion, application of dye on hairstrands etc., and cannot be properly performed by untrained individuals.

Like coloring, self hair highlighting is becoming more popular with thehelp of convenient and easy-to-use self highlighting products. One ofthe most common products to facilitate self highlighting is thehighlighting cap. It resembles a regular rubber or plastic shower capexcept it has small holes all over the cap area. Users can simply pullhair strands through those holes by placing a hook, which is usuallyalso provided in the highlighting kit, flat against the cap and thenpulling a plurality of tufts or strands of hair, i.e. more than one, outof the holes. Users will then color treat hair tufts or strands thathave been pulled out. This method eliminates the requirement of stylingskills. However, this process results in a random selection of strandsor tufts of hair, i.e., users can only guess the location of hairstrands that are pulled out and colored since the entire head is coveredby highlight cap. This might make designing highlighting patterndifficult. Also, since color dye is still applied by a brush manually,it bears the same disadvantages as traditional highlighting methods.

A highlighting tool called “strander” was introduced by major colorproducts manufacturers. The strander takes the shape of an upright hairbrush with teeth on it. Users will apply color dye on the teeth andsubsequently brush it through hair strands. It can create streaks ofcolored hair efficiently. However, it has no precise control of whichstrands of hair to color and spill-over to other hair strands is verycommon. Moreover, the amount of color dye being applied to hair strandsis very difficult to control. Using these types of devices commonlyresult in uneven distribution of dye.

Another highlighting tool that is available in the market is called abraid comb. It is a double-sided hair comb with two different teethpatterns. By combing through hair on both sides consecutively, strandsof hair will be separated. Again, users then apply color dye onseparated hair strands with a separate brush previously loaded withbleach creme rinse or coloring agent.

ADVANTAGES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object and advantage of the present invention is to provide a fasterhighlight process. The present invention takes almost less than half thetime that is spent currently on a traditional procedure to complete ahair highlight.

Another object and advantage is to lessen or eliminate fume emission.Unlike the current procedure which color dye is stored in an opencontainer where users, recipient and people in the immediate surroundingare at risk of inhaling the chemical, the present invention eliminatesthat risk because the color dye is stored and coming out of a closedcontainer.

Yet another object and advantage is to provide an easier, more desirableand more convenient method of highlighting. It is less critical toselect the right amount of hair to be highlighted. The amount of hair tobe used is automatically adjusted to pick hair strands at thepre-determined width and separates them at equidistance from each other.

Another object and advantage is to provide a hairhighlighter/highlighting tool that can be used by salon professionalsand equally effective by non-professional individuals. Thus the presentinvention can be sold to salons, beauty supply stores and other storesthat carry cosmetic products.

Another object and advantage is to provide a drip-proof or otherwisenon-dripping highlighter tool. Unlike current highlighting procedures,the present invention minimizes and/or eliminates any dripping of hairbleach or coloring agent on the floors or clothing.

Yet another object and advantage is to ensure even color highlightsdistribution on the hair. The traditional method of using a brush totransfer color dye from the bowl would saturate hair with color dye onone spot particularly near the ends and miss other spots particularlynear hair roots. The present invention ensure evenly distributed colorfrom hair roots till the ends.

Another object and advantage is to provide a less complicatedhighlighting process. The hair highlighting tool 100 of the presentinvention selects and grabs the predetermined and right amount of hairand colors it at the same time, and eliminates the need for thetraditional method of using the tail of a special comb to pick upstrands of hair to be colored and then using a brush to transfer colordye from the bowl.

Another object and advantage is to provide a hair highlighting processrequiring less labor.

Thus, the present invention is a hair highlighting device for applyinghair treatment or coloring agent to selected hair strands within a mainbody of hair, the hair highlighting device having a predetermined widthand comprising: a main body reservoir portion extending the width of thehair highlighting device, the main body reservoir portion defined by atleast 2 end portions, 2 elongated sidewalls and an opening along anupper portion, the main body reservoir portion having a lower channelwith an essentially V-shaped cross-section and a plurality of loweropenings located within the channel; a plurality of rollers coupledwithin the lower openings in the channel at the bottom of the main bodyreservoir portion; and a plurality of hair gripping teeth extendingdownward from the openings at the bottom of the hollow main bodyreservoir portion, the plurality of teeth each having hair grippingapparatus at a lower end of the teeth such that hair captured by theplurality of hair gripping teeth is segregated from the main body ofhair and allowed to contact the plurality of rollers, therebytransferring fluid hair treatment or coloring agent from the main bodyreservoir portion across the plurality of rollers to the captured hairas desired.

The hair highlighting device of the present invention further comprisesa handle portion coupled to the main body reservoir portion.

The highlighting device of the present invention further comprises anadjusting rod member having 2 ends, one end attached to a manual controlportion and the other end coupled to the plurality of hair grippingteeth, wherein the amount of hair treatment or coloring agenttransferred to the segregated hair can be adjusted.

The hair highlighting device of the present invention further comprisesa handle portion coupled to the main body reservoir portion, the manualcontrol portion mounted on the handle portion.

The hair highlighting device of the present invention further comprisesa lid portion coupled across the opening along the upper portion inwhich the main body reservoir portion comprises a lid portion.

The hair highlighting device of the present invention further comprisescylindrical roller device(s) which rotate both in clockwise andanti-clockwise directions along an axis perpendicular to the length ofthe main body reservoir portion.

The hair highlighting device of the present invention in which each hairgripping device further comprises a plurality of leg portions.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention each hair grippingdevice further comprises a plurality of inward-opening flexible doors.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the flexible doorsopen inwardly upon an externally applied downward pressure on thedevice.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the flexible doorsreturn to their original position when an externally applied downwardpressure on the device is removed.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the flexible doorsfurther comprise biasing means to return to their original position.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the biasing meanscomprises a spring member.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the adjusting buttondevice controls the length of the adjusting rod member.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the rollers arecylindrically-shaped.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the rollers areball-shaped.

The present invention is also a method of applying hair treatment agentssuch as bleach, colorants and highlighters to a predetermined number ofisolated or segregated sections of hair within a larger body of hair,the method comprising the following steps: obtaining a hair highlightingdevice having a main body reservoir portion extending the width of thehair highlighting device, the main body reservoir portion defined by atleast 2 end portions, 2 elongated sidewalls and an opening along anupper portion, the main body reservoir portion having a lower channelwith an essentially V-shaped cross-section and a plurality of loweropenings located within the channel, the hair highlighting devicefurther having a plurality of rollers coupled within the lower openingsin the channel at the bottom of the main body reservoir portion and aplurality of hair gripping teeth extending downward from the openings atthe bottom of the hollow main body reservoir portion, the plurality ofteeth each having hair gripping apparatus at a lower end of the teeth;contacting the main body of hair with the hair highlighting device suchthat hair is captured by the plurality of hair gripping teeth and thecaptured hair is segregated from the main body of hair; and contactingthe segregated portions of hair against the plurality of rollers,thereby transferring hair treatment agent from the main body reservoirportion across the plurality of rollers to the captured hair as desired.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be comeapparent through the following descriptions, and will be included andincorporated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative top view of a preferred embodiment of a hairhighlighting tool 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a representative front view of a preferred embodiment of ahair highlighting tool 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a representative side view of a preferred embodiment of a hairhighlighting tool 10 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a representative partial cross section view taken thru lines4-4 of a preferred embodiment of a hair highlighting tool 10 of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The description that follows is presented to enable one skilled in theart to make and use the present invention, and is provided in thecontext of a particular application and its requirements. Variousmodifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, and the general principals discussed below may beapplied to other embodiments and applications without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but the inventionis to be given the largest possible scope which is consistent with theprincipals and features described herein.

It will be understood that in the event parts of different embodimentshave similar functions or uses, they may have been given similar oridentical reference numerals and descriptions. It will be understoodthat such duplication of reference numerals is intended solely forefficiency and ease of understanding the present invention, and are notto be construed as limiting in any way, or as implying that the variousembodiments themselves are identical.

FIG. 1 is a representative top view of a preferred embodiment of a hairhighlighting tool 10 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is arepresentative front view of a preferred embodiment of a hairhighlighting tool 10 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, thehair highlighting tool 10 of the present invention comprises a handle 14portion and main body 12 portion. In a preferred embodiment, handle 10is coupled, mechanically with or without adhesive, to horizontally themiddle of main body portion 12 to retain the proper balance or weightingduring application of hair highlighting tool 10 of the presentinvention.

The main function of handle 14 is to provide a hand grip for user(s)during application. The shape of main body 12 resembles a hair comb withteeth. In a preferred embodiment, the top portion of main body 12 is ahollow container wherein hair dye and/or other liquid form hair productscan be stored for different applications.

As best shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment, one ormore teeth 11 are held in place by tooth slits 15 and rod/rigid wire 18collectively. The quantity, width, length and distance d betweenadjacent teeth 11 are all flexible and could be customized according torequirements. In a preferred embodiment, teeth 11 comprise a pair ofidentical or different main legs 22 a and 22 b. Main legs 22 a and 22 btake the shape of a thin elongated strip of metal or plastic. The widthand thickness of main legs 22 a and 22 b must be smaller than those ofslits 15 located at the bottom of main body 12 with a comfortableclearance on all four sides. In order to hold main legs 22 a and 22 b inplace and attached to the bottom of main body 12, main legs 22 a and 22b of each tooth structure 11 extend through respective slits 15. Eachend of main legs 22 a and 22 b are then secured rigidly to the rodportion or wire 18, as best shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom end of each main leg 22 a and 22 b isattached to side hinge 25 a and subsequently to horizontal flexibledoors 23 a and 23 b, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the pairof flexible doors 23 a and 23 b together with main legs 22 a and 22 band the bottom of main body 12 form an enclosed chamber region 28. Sidehinges 25 a allows flexible doors 23 a and 23 b to open inward whenbeing pushed. In a preferred embodiment, flexible doors 23 a and 23 bautomatically return to the starting position when the applying pressureis taken off or reduced. Thus, a predetermined number of strands of hairare selected and contained within the chamber regions 28. Thecross-sectional area of chambers 28 entirely depends on the length ofportion of main legs 22 a and 22 b that is outside main body or handlehousing portion 12.

In a preferred embodiment, adjusting button 16 is installed on handle14. The main function of adjusting button 16 is to adjust the length ofrigid wire 18, which will in turn lift up and/or push down toothstructure(s) 11 in and/or out of main body 12. The adjusting button 16is attached to the end of rigid wire 18. Thus, as adjusting button ispushed towards direction A as shown in FIG. 1, rigid wire 18 will travelthe same distance towards direction A. Additionally, as adjusting buttonis pulled back opposite direction A, rigid rod/wire 18 will travel thesame distance away from direction A. Adjusting button 16 can be a simplesliding button along the length of handle 14 or other mechanical lockingor notched sliding assemblies that are known in the art. As best shownin FIG. 2, when adjusting button 16 is pushed towards direction A, rigidwire 18 will be pulled towards the same direction and consequently pullmain legs 23 a and 23 b up and inside main body 12. As a result, thearea of chamber 28 will be reduced.

As shown in FIG. 1, one or more rollers 20 is installed within eachtooth structure 11 and centered between main legs 22 a and 22 b. In apreferred embodiment, rollers 20 are in cylindrical shape and are laidhorizontally and nested inside openings located at along the length ofthe bottom of main body 12. In a preferred embodiment, the length ofeach roller 20 should be slightly smaller than the distance betweenadjacent pair of main legs 22 a and 22 b. The diameter of each roller 20is such that it fits well inside corresponding nesting hole and leavesdispense slots 26 a and 26 b on both sides of roller 20.

FIG. 3 is a representative side view of a preferred embodiment of a hairhighlighting tool 10 of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, mainbody 12 is a hollow, channel-like structure with a funnel-shapedcross-section. A chamber region 28 contains a pre-loaded amount of cremebleach, rinse or color. In a preferred embodiment, when rod wire 18 isbeing pulled towards direction A by adjusting button 16, main legs 22 aand 22 b will be pulled vertically upwards inside main body 12 alongtrack 30 a and 30 b respectively. As a result, the area of chamber 28will be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a representative partial cross section view taken thru lines4-4 of a preferred embodiment of a hair highlighting tool 10 of thepresent invention. As shown in FIG. 4, hair color dye 28 and/or otherliquid form hair products can be stored in the hollow chamber of mainbody 12. Hollow chamber of main body 12 can be refilled through its topopening 29. Optionally, a lid 31 can be secured mechanically to covertop opening 29 during application. In a preferred embodiment, the onlyexit of hair color dye 28 is to leak out by gravity through dispenseslots 26 a and 26 b, which are clearances on both side of roller 20. Theflowing rate of hair color dye 28 through dispense slots 26 a and 26 bdepends on viscosity of hair color dye 28, width of dispense slots 26 aand 26 b and rotation rate of roller 20. When roller 20 is rotatingthrough hair color dye 28, it will facilitate flowing of hair dye 28 bybreaking the surface tension of hair color dye 28 at the opening ofdispense slots 26 a and 26 b and carrying hair color dye 28 on itssurface.

When a hair highlighting tool 10 of the present invention is beingdragged/combed through hair strands, some hair strands goes in the spacebetween tooth structures 11 and some will be pressed against flexibledoors 23 a and 23 b of tooth structures 11. Due to downward pressureapplied during combing motion, some hair strands that are pressedagainst flexible doors 23 a and/or 23 b will open up those flexibledoors 23 a and/or 23 b and enter chamber 28. Thereafter, flexible doors23 a and 23 b, optionally spring-loaded or biased into a closed position(as shown best in FIG. 2), will return to their respective startingposition. Thus, hair which had previously entered chamber 28 becomestrapped. Trapped hair strands will be in contact with roller 20 anddispense slots 26 a and 26 b, thus resulting in transfer of the treatingor coloring solution to the hair.

If user applies pressure on adjusting button 16 after some hair strandsare trapped in chamber 28, wire 18 will be shortened and pull up toothstructure 11 and reduce the area of chamber 28. As a result, trappedhair strands will be pressed against roller 20 and exert moreperpendicular pressure on roller 20. Together with the combing motionwhich is parallel to the direction of trapped hair strands, roller 20will be set to rotate either clockwise or anticlockwise depending on thedirection of combing motion. However, rotation of either direction willdispense hair color dye 28 through dispense slots 26 a and 26 b and onthe surface of roller 20 as previously described. This results inapplication of hair treatment or color dye 28 to trapped hair strands.User can repeat combing motion back and forth along hair strands to makesure adequate hair treatment or color dye 28 is applied. User can alsodetermine portion of hair strands to be colored by not combing throughthe entire length of trapped hair strands.

Consequently, only trapped hair strands are colored while hair strandsthat went through space between tooth structures 11 unaffected. If theprocess is repeated to the whole head of hair, individual hair strandsof recipient will be dyed randomly and thus “Highlighted”.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art to which the present invention belongs. Although any methods andmaterials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, preferred methods andmaterials are now described. All publications and patent documentsreferenced in the present invention are incorporated herein byreference.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear inillustrative embodiments, there will be immediately obvious to thoseskilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangement,proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in thepractice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adaptedto specific environments and operative requirements without departingfrom those principles. The appended claims are intended to cover andembrace any and all such modifications, with the limits only of the truepurview, spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A hair highlighting device for applying hair treatment or coloringagent to selected hair strands within a main body of hair, the hairhighlighting device having a predetermined width and comprising: a mainbody reservoir portion extending the width of the hair highlightingdevice, the main body reservoir portion defined by at least 2 endportions, 2 elongated sidewalls and an opening along an upper portion,the main body reservoir portion having a lower channel with anessentially V-shaped cross-section and a plurality of lower openingslocated within the channel; a plurality of rollers coupled within thelower openings in the channel at the bottom of the main body reservoirportion; and a plurality of hair gripping teeth extending downward fromthe openings at the bottom of the hollow main body reservoir portion,the plurality of teeth each having hair gripping apparatus at a lowerend of the teeth such that hair captured by the plurality of hairgripping teeth is segregated from the main body of hair and allowed tocontact the plurality of rollers, thereby transferring fluid hairtreatment or coloring agent from the main body reservoir portion acrossthe plurality of rollers to the captured hair as desired.
 2. The hairhighlighting device of claim 1 further comprising a handle portioncoupled to the main body reservoir portion.
 3. The highlighting deviceof claim 1, further comprising an adjusting rod member having 2 ends,one end attached to a manual control portion and the other end coupledto the plurality of hair gripping teeth, wherein the amount of hairtreatment or coloring agent transferred to the segregated hair can beadjusted.
 4. The hair highlighting device of claim 3 further comprisinga handle portion coupled to the main body reservoir portion, the manualcontrol portion mounted on the handle portion.
 5. The hair highlightingdevice of claim 1, further comprising a lid portion coupled across theopening along the upper portion in which the main body reservoir portioncomprises a lid portion.
 6. The hair highlighting device of claim 1 inwhich the cylindrical roller device(s) rotate both in clockwise andanti-clockwise directions along an axis perpendicular to the length ofthe main body reservoir portion.
 7. The hair highlighting device ofclaim 1 in which each hair gripping device further comprises a pluralityof leg portions.
 8. The hair highlighting device of claim 1 in whicheach hair gripping device further comprises a plurality ofinward-opening flexible doors.
 9. The hair gripping device of claim 6 inwhich the flexible doors open inwardly upon an externally applieddownward pressure on the device.
 10. The hair gripping device of claim 6in which the flexible doors return to their original position when anexternally applied downward pressure on the device is removed.
 11. Thehair gripping device of claim 6 in which the flexible doors furthercomprise biasing means to return to their original position.
 12. Thehair gripping device of claim 11 in which the biasing means comprises aspring member.
 13. The hair highlighting device of claim 1 in which theadjusting button device controls the length of the adjusting rod member.14. The hair highlighting device of claim 1 in which the rollers arecylindrically-shaped.
 15. The hair highlighting device of claim 1 inwhich the rollers are ball-shaped.
 16. A method of applying hairtreatment agents such as bleach, colorants and highlighters to apredetermined number of isolated or segregated sections of hair within alarger body of hair, the method comprising the following steps:obtaining a hair highlighting device having a main body reservoirportion extending the width of the hair highlighting device, the mainbody reservoir portion defined by at least 2 end portions, 2 elongatedsidewalls and an opening along an upper portion, the main body reservoirportion having a lower channel with an essentially V-shapedcross-section and a plurality of lower openings located within thechannel, the hair highlighting device further having a plurality ofrollers coupled within the lower openings in the channel at the bottomof the main body reservoir portion and a plurality of hair grippingteeth extending downward from the openings at the bottom of the hollowmain body reservoir portion, the plurality of teeth each having hairgripping apparatus at a lower end of the teeth; contacting the main bodyof hair with the hair highlighting device such that hair is captured bythe plurality of hair gripping teeth and the captured hair is segregatedfrom the main body of hair; and contacting the segregated portions ofhair against the plurality of rollers, thereby transferring hairtreatment agent from the main body reservoir portion across theplurality of rollers to the captured hair as desired.